Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Fargo Diocese Bringing In Heavy Guns to Fight Abortion

The Diocese of Fargo, ND has announced that on 1 June 2011, they will open a prayer chapel near the location of the state's only abortion clinic. The chapel has as its special intention: "prayer in reparation for the sin of abortion and the conversion of those who participate in abortion."

The chapel has been named The Visitation Chapel after the story in Luke where Mary goes to visit he cousin Elizabeth when Mary & Elizabeth were both with child. As the article from New Earth, the diocesan paper, explains: "While meditating upon the Scripture passage of the visitation between Mary and her cousin, Elizabeth, one can easily draw parallels between their condition and our present day crisis with abortion.Both Mary and Elizabeth unexpectedly found themselves with child. Yet, rather than despairing over Mary being seen as an unwed mother, or Elizabeth being a woman who wasbeyond her years to have children and, as we so often hear today, that because of her age there was fear that the child she carried might be disabled in some way, both women turned to God with confidence in his will for them. They recognized that the life within them is willed by their heavenly Father and that every life has a particular meaning and purpose within God’s plan for salvation."

The chapel will be located on the 3rd floor of the Gibb Building located at 502 First Ave. N. in Fargo. Every Wednesday, the day that abortions are performed in Fargo, there will be a Mass at 8 a.m., followed by Eucharistic Adoration at 8:30 a.m., which will continue until 3:45 p.m. when Benediction will take place. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited at the Hour of Mercy, 3 p.m. Other prayer in the Chapel is intended for private devotion.

Prayer at the chapel "will also be for all women who find themselves faced with an unplanned pregnancy — that they may have the opportunity to visit with those who can show them sincere care and concern; that their lives will be touched by the presence of Christ in their midst, who can resolve the difficulties or struggles that may be causing them to consider an abortion."

The idea for the chapel was 1st presented to Bishop Samuel Aquila in March of 2010. A letter was sent to him by Kyle & Tara Newman, parishioners of Holy Cross Church in West Fargo. wrote to the Bishop asking him to consider establishing a chapel for the celebration & exposition of the Eucharist in a building adjacent to the state’s only abortion facility. Taking the suggestion to prayer as well as discussing & researching the issue, Bishop Aquila gave his permission.

In explaining why the need for the chapel the article said: "Abortion has become the crucial social justice issue of our day since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalized this crime against life in our nation. Since this decision, we find ourselves engaged in a spiritual battle for the lives of our country’s unborn children that demands of us as church to be at the center of the human misery and sin that is caused by abortion.We have at our disposal in this spiritual battle the greatest of all resources, that of prayer. By offering Mass and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in close proximity to the abortion facility, we make Christ present to all those who are caught in the lie of abortion. Christ is present to the unborn child whose right to life is being oppressed. He is attentive to thewoman entering the abortion facility under the weight of human frailty. And he is calling all those who advocate and provide for abortions in downtown Fargo to be set free from the bondage the Evil One has on them.We carry out one of the church’s spiritual works of mercy by being present in the Visitation Chapel, with hearts engaged in prayer as we affirm the dignity of every human person by our faithful witness to the sanctity of human life."

1 of the blessing of the location of the chapel is that it will enable more people to gather in prayer who, for various reasons like age, are unable to pray outside the clinic.

I have always said that prayer is our most important weapon in battling abortion. Bringing in the Real Presence through Eucharistic Adoration will bring the power of prayer into focus in a very special & powerful way.

Bravo to Bishop Aquila for his bold move to ensure the end of abortion in his diocese. He is truly showing what it means to be a shepherd of the flock.

Of course the abortion clinic is trying to downplay the opening of the chapel. Tammi Kromenaker of the Red River Women’s Clinic said the abortion facility is a “safe haven” for pregnant women. “It doesn’t matter who moves in next door, across the street or down the block. We are a safe haven for women to consider what they need to do with this pregnancy and for their lives.”

What she fails to mention is that last year it was revealed that the center used 2 abortion practitioners who had expired medical licenses. Under North Dakota law it is a Class B Felony to commit abortions in that state without a valid North Dakota medical license. So much for being a safe haven for women, not that it ever was for the unborn.

But with the new chapel opening, I firmly believe God will work powerfully & soon the abortion clinic will be a thing of the past in Fargo.

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About Me

Sono Italiano-americano. I am a member of St Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church. I am an advisor to Alpha Phi Omega & College Republicans at Loras College. I am a member of the Dubuque Co. Republican Central Committee. I have been involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement since 1974. For me the overriding issue of the day is defending the preborn & upholding their right to life. If we don't value life before birth, we devalue it after birth. Life is a gift from God. This is why I am a supporter of the work that Dubuque County Right to Life does in my area. & that is why I am politically active. Our nation's laws need to be changed to protect all from conception to natural death.